Kerry Press Release: Retired Military Officials on Bush Redeployment Plan

[Skinner]

For Immediate Release
August 18, 2004

Statement by Senior Retired Military Officials on Bush Redeployment Plan

Washington, DC - Eight senior retired military officials released the following statement today:

“President Bush’s unilateral withdrawal plan will not make America safer and it will not relieve the current burden on our troops. Given today’s threats, we should be reaching out to the world, rebuilding our alliances and finding real solutions to relieve the strain on our overstretched military. John Kerry will keep faith with our troops and their families who are overburdened by the extended deployments of their loved ones.

“In the past three years North Korea has reportedly made enough new bomb material for six to nine nuclear weapons. Unilaterally withdrawing 12,000 troops from South Korea will weaken our negotiating position when we need to be strong. Instead of keeping U.S. personnel forward deployed and ready to go after Al Qaeda in more than sixty countries around the world, President Bush’s plan would take them further from the action.

“This administration was not focused on the right threats prior to 9/11 and has since lost focus on going after Al Qaeda and finishing the job in Afghanistan.

“John Kerry understands the threats we face in a post 9/11 world. His proposals for transforming our military are the right steps for addressing these threats and for keeping faith with our allies as we ask them to share more of the burden, from Iraq to Afghanistan.”

Signed by:

Admiral Stansfield Turner (United States Navy, Retired) General Wesley K. Clark (United States Army, Retired) General Merrill "Tony" A. McPeak (United States Air Force, Retired) General Johnnie E. Wilson (United States Army, Retired) Vice Admiral Lee F. Gunn (United States Navy, Retired) Lieutenant General Claudia J. Kennedy (United States Army, Retired) Lieutenant General Edward D. Baca (United States Army, Retired) Lieutenant General Daniel W. Christman (United States Army, Retired)

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[Feanorcurufinwe]

1. I find Bush's troop plan as credible as his plan to go to Mars.

2 examples of purely political theater.